Toy vehicle and track set

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle and associated track set including a generally flat-surfaced track having a main track portion and at least one intersecting branch track portion, a fixed track guide means at the surface of the track at each intersection of the main track portion with a branch track portion, and a toy vehicle movable along the track. The toy vehicle has movable vehicle guide means which may be programmed by means associated with the track to subsequently engage corresponding track guide means to guide the vehicle from the main track portion onto a selected branch track portion. Means may also be provided at the track to clear programming from the vehicle.

United States Patent [191 Goldgarb Dec. 31, 1974 TOY VEHICLE AND TRACKSET [21] Appl. No.: 310,936

Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Attorney,Agent, or FirmRobert M. Ashen [5 7 ABSTRACT A toy vehicle and associatedtrack set including a generally flat-surfaced track having a main trackportion [22] (5|. 46/202, 4611/2441), and at least one intersectingbranch track portion, a d A63 fixed track guide means at the surface ofthe track at 1 0 care /2 D each intersection of the main track portionwith a branch track portion, and a toy vehicle movable along [56]References cued the track. The toy vehicle has movable vehicle guideUNITED STATES PATENTS means which may be programmed by means associ-2,106,424 1/1938 Einfalt 46/202X ated with the track to subsequentlyengage corre- 2,115,108 4/ 1938 Horn 46/210 sponding track guide meansto guide the vehicle from 3,011,288 12/1961 Emfalt 1. 46/202 X th i t kpo tion onto a selected branch track E E f portion. Means may also beprovided at the track to os e a. 3,481,067 12/1969 Cooper 46/202 clearpmgrammmg from the Y 3,600,851 8/1971 Nielsen 46/244 D 30 Claims, 16Drawing Figures 47w 51a y 41 I I m: 9 3 s PATENTED I974 3. 857. .1 93

sum 2 or 4 FIG? TOY VEHICLE AND TRACK SET Toy vehicles and track layoutsutilized therewith, have long provided both a childrens toy and a hobby.A major area of interest has been in toy trains utilized on simulatedrailroad tracks. More recent interest has been in the utilization ofracing cars and other simulated automobiles on various track layouts.Various tracks are constructed to be electrically conductive so thatthey can transmit energy to a motor in the vehicle which serves to drivethe wheels and propel the vehicle on the tracks. For railroad trains,the utilization of such a metal conductor track does not affect therealism of the layout since the real railroad tracks are metal. Forautomobiles, on the other hand, the utilization of conductive tracksdoes affect the appearance of the track utilized so it does not appearas realistic as a normal road or highway. From the inception of theoriginal toys utilizing vehicles and associated tracks, there was arequirement to provide switching at junctions of the track layout. Inother words, to make a track layout interesting it generally willcomprise more than a single loop, having various loops within loops sothat two or more vehicles can simultaneously be utilized or so that onecan select the movement of a single vehicle along a complex route. lnorder for this to occur, one must have the ability to switch or controlthe movement of a car when it comes to an intersection of track wherethe vehicle can go in one of two or more directions. Originally, theswitches were mechanically actuated through the use of levers or someother means. The mechanical switch had a disadvantage. On a large layoutit was difficult to reach the various locations of the switches to dothe switching as the vehicles moved around the track, since the switcheswere generally controlled at the switch and not from a single remotelocation or console. On the other hand, electric switches do provide forremote control and give the user the ability to control the movement ofa vehicle or vehicles along a complex layout from a central location orconsole. Electrical switches, however, are expensive and complex, and,thus, not suitable for simple, inexpensive layouts. Thus, it would bedesirable to provide a means for controlling the movement of a vehiclealong a complex track layout from a center console and without therequirement of mechanically actuated or electrically actuated switching.Such means are particularly important where the vehicle utilized is selfpropelled and the track is non-conductive so that one would not evenhave the opportunity to utilize electrical controlled switches.

In addition to controlling the switching of a track layout atintersections, it is also particularly desirable to be able to stop avehicle at selected positions such as loading docks, terminals and thelike that can be located along the track to add a further dimension ofrealism. In an electrically controlled system, this can be readilyaccomplished. However, in a system where a non-electrically conductivetrack is used, the problem becomes more difficult, particularly where itis desirable to both stop, and then allow the vehicle to restart from astop position along a track at a pre-selected position. It is thusdesirous to provide a simple means for stopping a vehicle at apre-selected position on a track layout and then allowing the vehicle tocontinue when desired from that position.

Briefly, the herein illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises anovel, self-propelled toy vehicle and associated roadway or track layouton which the vehicle will move and be controlled in its movement. Thetrack has a generally flat surface with slightly raised side walls whichserve to guide the self-propelled vehicle there along. To help guide thevehicle along the track and so that it can negotiate turns on the track,the vehicle wheels are essentially the width of the track between theside walls. The vehicle is driven by means of a spring wound or batteryactuated motor, so that it is self-propelled.

The vehicle has disposed within it a plurality of actuatable vehicleguide or control means spaced across the width of the vehicle. Thevehicle control means includes a downward extending control portionwhich can be made to drop down to its operative position where it rideson the surface of the track. A console on the track is operable toselectively actuate one or more of the vehiclcontrol means to place itin its downward operative position. At locations along a track layout,the vehicle can move in one or more directions. The track is providedadjacent such locations with a groove or slot in its surface such thatthe control portion of the vehicle control means can engage the trackgroove to cause the vehicle to move in a selected direction along thetrack. For example, if there are four transversely spaced vehiclecontrol means, then there are four possible groove positions spacedtransversely of the track. If a control portion corresponding to aparticular track control groove in the track is in its downwardoperative position then the vehicle will be directed, through theengagement of the vehicle control portion with the track control groove,to move on the track in accordance with the groove position along thetrack. Alternatively, if the vehicle encounters a groove on the trackand the corresponding control portion is in its raised inoperativeposition, then the vehicle will not be affected by the groove and willthus not be guided to move by such groove. The segments of the trackcontaining the grooves can have indicia thereon such as color coding orthe like, which will correspond to indicia on the control console foractuating guide means in the vehicle. Thus, the user will be able toeasily determine what guide means to actuate to achieve the desiredmovement of the vehicle at each coded segment along a complex tracklayout. The set may be further provided with means for stopping thevehicle at desired locations as well as at the control console, and forselectively permitting the vehicle to proceed again. Further means areprovided on the vehicle and on the track to cooperatively deprogram theguide or control means on the vehicle after the vehicle has performed adesired function or functions on the track. Such cooperative means alsoserve to reset or deprogram the programming means on the track so that anew program can be set for the next vehicle or for the next cycle of thepresent vehicle.

The aforegoing invention provides a simple, readily constructed meansfor controlling the movement of vehicles along a track which can bereadily utilized by children of young ages. Particular details andadditional features of the invention will be seen from the followingdescription and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a toy vehicle comprising a preferred form ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the vehicle taken generally along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 taken generally alongline 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the control meansutilized in the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned side view of control means within avehicle in relation to a portion of the track;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned view taken generally along line 6-6 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a track layout of a preferred form ofthe invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the track of FIG. 7 atan intersection;

FIG. 9 is a further enlarged section view of a portion of the trackshowing a groove therein;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the portion of track including a controlconsole;

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view taken generally along line 1ll1 of FIG.10, showing resetting means;

FIGS. 12a, 12b and 120 are enlarged perspective views of portions of thetrack and associated control console;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial perspective view of one arrangement forstopping and allowing a vehicle to continue;

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment for stoppingand allowing a vehicle to contmue.

Turning now to the figures, there is seen in FIGS. l-6 a toy vehicle 11of this invention. The vehicle 11 has a body or housing 13 disposedbetween and supported by wheels 15. In'the version shown, the body 13supports an enclosure 17 seated there above which can contain a motor orother suitable drive means for the vehicle. It is pointed out that abattery driven electric motor or a spring wound motor can both besuccessfully utilized to propel the vehicle in a conventional manner andthe particular means for locomotion does form a part of this invention.Rather, the herein invention is particularly directed to controlling themovement of such a vehicle along a track. The body 13 for the vehiclehas a forward wall 19, side walls 21, and a bottom wall 23. The vehiclemay be a train, a car, etc.

The vehicle shown is provided with four transversely spaced guide orcontrol means in the form of elements which are carried within the body13 of the vehicle. A guide or control element 25 is shown in detail inFIG. 4. Each guide element 25 is generally flat, having a front end 27,a rear end 29, a top surface 31 and a bottom surface 33. The guideelement 25 is provided with a spacer hub 35 adjacent the rear of its topsurface 31. The hub 35 has a central aperture 37 such that a transverseaxle 39 supported between sidewalls 21 of the vehicle body 13 can passtherethrough to support the guide elements 25 within the body. Such anarrangement permits the guide elements 25 to pivotally rotate on axle 39relative to the vehicle in a manner to be further described. The widthof the hubs 35 are such that when all of the guide elements are disposedon the axle 39 within the vehicle body, the total hub width of all ofthe guide elements is slightly less than the interior width of thevehicle body to prevent any significant side-to-side shifting of a guideelement. This is particularly well seen in FIG. 2. Each guide element 25is further provided at its lower front corner with a downwardlyextending control or guide tab or portion 41 hereinafter referred to asthe guide tab. Each guide element 25 also has a second downwardlyextending tab or portion 43 at the lower rear of the element hereinafterreferred to as the actuator tab. The actuator tab 43 is offset from thevertical plane of the guide element by means of an extension 45integrally formed with the guide element. Thus, the actuator tab 43 liesin a plane parallel to but transversely offset from the plane in whichthe guide tab 41 is located. In general, this offset permits separatemeans which engage the guide tab 41 to avoid the actuator tab 43 whilemeans which engage the actuator tab 43 avoid the guide tab 41. Thedetails of such means with regard to the relative disposition of theguide tab 41 and actuator tab 43 will be further explained below inregard to the operation of the vehicle in combination with a track onwhich it moves.

Each guide element 25 is additionally provided with a generally U-shapedlock spring portion 47 connected to the guide element by one end 49which is integrally formed with and extends from the upper front cornerof the guide element. The opposite end 51 of the lock spring portion 47is free or unsupported and is in the form of a rounded lock projection.The entire guide element 25 can be of a molded plastic construction,utilizing a material that will provide sufficient resiliency in theU-shaped spring portion 47 so that the lock projection 51 can berepeatedly compressed inwardly toward the opposite end 49. When theguide elements 25 are disposed within the vehicle 11 they are arrangedas seen in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, particularly. The bottom wall 23 of thevehicle is provided with an irregular opening 53 through which the tabs41 and 43 can extend downwardly. The actuator tabs 43 can extend downthrough the main rear portion of the opening 53. The opening 53 includesa plurality of forwardly extending slots 55 through which the guide tabs41 can extend downwardly. The slots 55 serve to maintain propertransverse spacing between the guide tabs 41 and their properpositioning relative to the track.

FIG. 5 shows the guide elements 25 in both a locked raised position andan unlocked lowered position relative to the vehicle 11. In FIG. 5, afirst guide element 25 is shown in the locked, raised, inoperativeposition while a second adjacent guide member 25a is shown in theunlocked, lowered, operative position. In order to achieve a locking ofa guide element 25, a locking bar 57 is provided, extending horizontallyacross the interior of the top of the front wall 19 of the vehicle. Thelocking bar 57 has a recess 59 formed therein which can engage therounded lock projection 51 of a lock spring portion 47, releasiblylocking the guide element in place. It is important to note that when aguide element 25 is locked relative to the locking bar 57, there is nosignificant compression on the spring portion 47 so that the springportion is not subjected to extended periods of stress which wouldsignificantly shorten its life. With a guide element 25 locked relativeto the locking bar 57, the actuator tab 43 extends downwardly below thelower wall 23 of the vehicle, but remains spaced above the upper surface61 of the track 63 as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The front or guide tab 41is correspondingly raised above the surface 61 of the track. As thevehicle moves forward on the track as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, theactuator tab 43 will ride spaced immediately above the track surface 61as indicated. It will strike an obstruction such as an actuatorprotrusion 65 extending above the surface 61 of the track, coalignedwith a particular actuator tab 43 in the vehicle. The actuator lever 65,upon contacting the actuator tab 43, causes the guide element 25 torotate about axle 39 so that the lock projection 51 of the springportion 47 disengages from the recess 59 and allows the guide tab 41 todrop down to the track. This is shown in FIG. 5 where a guide tab 41a ofa guide element 25a is riding on a track surface 61 after the springportion 47 has become disengaged from the locking bar 57. It is pointedout that when the guide element 25 is forced to rotate about the axle 39there is a slight compression of the lock spring portion 47 such that itwill become disengaged from the locking bar. However, the spring portionimmediately returns to its preformed shape upon disengagement from thelocking bar and assumes a non-stressed position as shown at 470 in FIG.5 with regard to the guide element 25a. It should be appreciated asfurther seen from FIG. 5 that the weight distribution of the guideelement 25 about the axle 39 is such that when it is in an unlockedposition as seen with regard to the guide element 25a, the forwardportion of the guide element will drop downwardly so that the guide tab41a will ride along the surface 61 of the track; at the same time therear actuator tab 43a is raised up above the track surface.

When a guide tab 41 is riding on the track after an actuator tab 43 hasbeen actuated to release a guide element, the guide tab 41 then canengage a guide or control groove provided in the track in a transverselycoaligned position with the guide tab 41. The spacial relationship ofthe guide elements 25 and the track grooves will be explained in furtherdetail in the following description.

Turning to FIG. 7, there is seen a complete track layout 69 having aplurality of track segments 71 forming an entire closed loop track 63.As particularly seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the track 63 has a flat topsurface 61 with slightly raised side walls 73 which serve to guide themovement of the vehicle about the track since the distance between theoutside surfaces of the wheels of the vehicle is slightly less than thewidth of the track between the side walls 73.

A control console 74 is provided at one portion of the track layout andserves to initially program a vehicle or vehicles for movement about thetrack in a desired manner. In the particular layout shown, there existthree different loops along which a vehicle can travel starting at theconsole 74. The first loop begins at a branch from the main trackportion 76 formed by curved branch portion 75 and continues past a firststation 77 and a second station 79, returning to the control panel 74.The second loop is effected by a branch from the main track portion 76formed by curved branch portion 81 and continues past stations 83 and85, and back to the console 74. The third loop is formed by acontinuation of the main track portion 76 through a curved track portion87 and past stations 89 and 91 and back to the console 74. As will beexplained in detail, the vehicle may be programmed to continue alongmain track portion 76 (and thence around the third loop) or it may beprogrammed to divert onto either branch track portion 75 or 81 (andthence around the first or second loop). Briefly, this programming forcurves is achieved by operating the console 74 to control the positionsof certain of the guide tabs 41 on the vehicle. There is a groove 101 inthe track adjacent track branch portion 75 and there is a groove 103 inthe track adjacent track branch portion 81. By operating the console 74to lower into the operative position, the guide tab 41 corresponding intransverse location to groove 101, the user thereby causes that tab 41to enter the groove 101 and carry the vehicle into track branch portion75. Similarly, by operating the console 74 to lower the guide tab 41corresponding in transverse location to groove 103, the user therebycauses that tab 41 to enter groove 103 and carry the vehicle along trackbranch portion 81. It will be appreciated that each groove or slot inthe track provides by its side wall a longitudinal guide surface thatextends normal to the track surface 61 for engagement with a guide tab41. This vertical guide surface may also be provided by a raised rib aswell as by a groove or slot.

To further explain the control of a vehicle relative to the grooves 101and 103, attention is directed to FIGS. 8 through 12. As seen in FIG.10, the vehicle will be moving on the track in the direction of thearrows, from right to left. The control console 74 may be provided withan upper wall 102 having a row of apertures in which are disposed aplurality of depressible buttons 105. Buttons 107 and 109 can bedepressed to, respectively, stop the vehicle at the control console andpermit it to proceed. As seen in FIG. 12a, buttons 107 and 109 may becarried on opposite ends of an arm 111 disposed below the console upperwall 102. The arm 111 is rigidly connected to a rotatable horizontalaxle 113 which extends below the track 63 and is rigidly connected to anarm 115 also disposed below the track. An upwardly extending projection117 is provided at the outer end of the arm 115. The projection 117extends through an aperture 119 in the track. When the stop" button 107is depressed, the projection 117 is raised above the surface 61 of thetrack through the aperture 119 so as to abut the forward wall 19 of avehicle and prevent its forward movement. When the go button 109 isdepressed, the projection 117 is lowered below the surface 61 of thetrack into aperture 119, allowing the vehicle to continue along thetrack. The stop and go means can be utilized to stop the car at thecontrol console so that it can be reenergized, particularly if thevehicle is powered by a spring-driven motor. Even if an electric motoris utilized, it may be desirable to stop the vehicle at the controlconsole to program its further direction of movement about the track(although the vehicle may be programmed as it passes the console withoutstopping). It is pointed out that FIG. 12a shows the stop and go meanssomewhat schematically in that the entire support structure for thebutton elements is not shown.

Means may be provided at the console to place the vehicle guide means ina neutral state. This is, all of the guide elements 25 can be locked innonoperative position so that the guide tabs 41 are above the surface ofthe track and the vehicle would thus be ready to be programmed. This canbe readily achieved by providing a plurality of transversely-spacedlongitudinally extending ramps 120 in a section of the track precedingthe console. The ramps 120 are each transversely aligned with one of theguide tabs 41 of one of the guide elements 25 of the vehicle and theyextend above the surface 61 of the track a sufficient distance to engageand push the corresponding guide elements 25 upwardly so that lockprojection 51 of the spring lock portion 47 is seated in recess 59 ofthe locking bar 57.

While a vehicle is stopped at the console, or prior to the vehiclereaching the console if the vehicle is not to be stopped at the console,one can select the desired program for it by utilizing the remainingbuttons 105. For a vehicle having four guide members as shown in FIGS. 1to 6, there would be required four setting buttons, 121, 123, 125 and127, to program the vehicle. Each setting button is carried at one endof a pivoted lever arm 129 (FIG. 12b) which extends horizontally underthe console and track and terminates at its inner end in an upwardlyextending actuator protrusion 65. FIG. 1211 shows by way of example, thearm 129 which is pivoted at 147 and carries the setting button 121. Eachactuator protrusion 65 is comprised of a flat vertical wall portion 131which is normal to the surface 61 of the track and underlies the track.An enlarged head portion 133 is integrally formed with the wall portion131, forming a downwardly facing lip 135. Each arm 129 has a spring 137located below it in the region of the setting button. Until a settingbutton is depressed, the actuator protrusion 65 will remain biased bythe spring 137 to a position below the surface 61 of the track. Asshown, aperture 139 corresponds to button 121 while apertures 141, 143and 145 correspond respectively to buttons 123, 125 and 127. While thecorresponding actuator protrusions are positioned generally below thecorresponding apertures in the track surface, the protrusions are offsetslightly to one side of the apertures (to the left as viewed in FIGS.12). Thus, for example, when the button 121 is depressed, compressingspring 137, the protrusion end 138 of arm 129 is bent slightly to theright to permit the enlarged head portion 133 to pass through theaperture 139. The head portion 133 has an inclined or camming surface140 to facilitate the entry of head portion 133 into the aperture. Thiscan be readily achieved when the arm 129 is formed out ofa flexiblematerial such as plastic having a spring-like quality. After the entirehead portion 133 is through aperture 139, it will shift back to the left(FIGS. 12), and release of the corresponding button 121 allows the lip135 of the actuator protrusion 65 back down against the surface 61 ofthe track adjacent the aperture, to retain the actuator protrusionextended above the track as shown in FIG. 120.

As can be appreciated, each button being depressed will cause acorresponding actuator protrusion 65 to assume a position above thesurface 61 of the track. Each actuator protrusion 65 in such a settingposition will engage and thereby elevate a corresponding actuator tab 43of a vehicle as the vehicle moves past it so as to cause thecorresponding guide tab 41 to become unlocked and drop down in thepreviously described manner to the operative position shown in FIG. 5.Because of their transverse offset, the guide tabs 41 avoid engagementwith the protrusions 65 as shown in FIG.

In order for the convenient utilization of the console, the buttons 121,123, 125 and 127 may be marked to indicate the user the particular guidegroove or grooves which the particular button sets the vehicle torespond to. This can be done by color coding, a number or letter system,or word descriptions such as first curve. For example, it can be seenthat button 121 will cause the guide tab 41 furthest from the console tobecome unlocked and drop down onto the track surface. Such a guide tab41 will engage the slot 101 adjacent track branch portion 75 (See FIG. 7and 8), to cause the vehicle to proceed into that curved track branchportion along the associated loop. In view of this, there shouldpreferably be a corresponding indicia on the track at track branchportion 75 which will correspond to an indicia on button 121. One of themost preferred manners of accomplishing this is by a color code. Thus, ayellow button 121 will correspond to a yellow section of track at trackbranch portion 75. Then if the child user presses a yellow button hewill know that the vehicle will in turn engage the slot or groove in theyellow piece of track and be directed to move onto the branch portion75. Likewise, the guide groove 103 (FIG. 7) is disposed in line with theaperture closest to the console. Therefore the track at track branchportion 81 may be colored red to correspond to the red button 127 whichcontrols the protrusion at aperture 145. The remaining portions of thetrack not having any guide slots thereon could be colored green. Thus,for example, curved portion 87 on the track layout of FIG. 7 would becolored green. As a result, it can be appreciated that where there areseveral loops in a track as shown in FIG. 7, the user sitting at theconsole can select the particular loop for the vehicle to follow by thecolor of the track leading into that loop and pressing a button of acorresponding color on the console.

As seen in FIG. 5, when an actuator tab 43 strikes an actuatorprotrusion 65 and is thereby raised up, the force of the spring portion47 is overcome and it is disengaged from the recess 59. The front guidetab 41 is thereby dropped downwardly onto the track surface 61. Thebottom surface 23 of the vehicle is provided with four individualclearing bumpers 149. Each bumper 149 is aligned with a correspondingactuator tab 43 and thus with a corresponding actuator protrusion 65. Asthe vehicle passes the protrusions, the desired guide tabs 41 are set onthe vehicle, however, the elevated protrusions remain in that position.In order to clear such elevated protrusions so that the console can beset as desired for the next vehicle, as the first vehicle moves past theprotrusions, the bumpers 149 strike aligned elevated protrusions 65.This moves each engaged protrusion slightly forwardly (to the right inFIG. 12), to permit the protrusion to be drawn downwardly through themating aperture under the action of its spring 137. Thus, the bumpers149 serve as a means for automatically clearing the console of allraised protrusions which were utilized to pre-program a given vehiclepassing through the console area. It should be ap parent that this isbut one arrangement to achieve this clearing and in fact other means canbe utilized for clearing the track adjacent the console. For example, amechanism for shifting the position of a section of the track could beused to align the protrusions with their respective apertures.

The front guide tabs 41, when riding on the track surface after avehicle has been programmed at the console, offer some resistance tomovement of the vehicle due to the simple frictional engagement with thesurface 61 of the track; whereas when the tab 41 is in a raised lockedposition, actuator tab 43 is spaced above the surface 61 of the track.Thus, after a given guide tab 41 has engaged a groove or slot, such as101 as seen in FIG. 8, it may be desired that it be raised upwardly intoa locked position if it is no longer needed to perform another guidingfunction. Thus, the slot 101 in the track can be followed by a raisedportion 151 (FIGS. 8 and 9) with a transitional section 153therebetween.

The raised portion 151 serves a function similar to the raised ramps 120preceding the console in that the raised portion 151 forces the guidetab 41 to be raised upwardly so that it becomes locked within thevehicle. This drops the rear actuator tab 43 downwardly; however, theactuator tab 43 is transversely offset from the guide tab 41 so thatactuator tab 43 will clear the raised portion 151. If the tabs 41 and 43were aligned, the raised portion 151 (and raised ramps 120) would serveto engage the actuator tab 43, forcing it upwardly and again droppingthe guide tab 41; obviously this would defeat the aforementioned purposeof effectively relocking the guide tab 41. A raised portion 151 need notbe associated with each groove in the track, particularly if it isdesired for the vehicle to utilize the same guide tab at anotherlocation further along the track. Thus, the set can be provided withtrack guide sections, some having raised portions following grooveswhile other guide sections of the track would have grooves with noraised portions.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are directed to two different arrangements for providingmeans for stopping and then allowing a vehicle to restart at stationsalong the track layout such as stations 77, 83, 85, 89, 91 shown in FIG.7.

The first arrangement as seen in FIG. 13, comprises a stop button 155 atthe outer end of a pivoted arm 157, that extends underneath the track.At the inner end of the arm 157 there is an upwardly extendingprojection 159 adapted to protrude upwardly through an opening 161 inthe track 63. The arm 157 and projection 159 are constructed andarranged in the same manner as the arm 129 and actuator protrusion 65(as shown in FIGS. and 12), and are provided witha biasing spring 160comparable to spring 137. Thus, the projection 159 can be releasiblylocked in position elevated above the track surface in the same mannerpreviously described with regard to the protrusions 65 operated by theconsole. The projection 159 is coaligned with the path of one of theactuator tabs 43 on the vehicle. Thus, when stop button 155 isdepressed, the projection 159 is set in the raised position. When thevehicle arrives at the location of projection 159, that projectionengages and raises an actuator tab 43 on the vehicle, thereby lowering acorresponding guide tab 41. As the vehicle proceeds, the lowered guidetab 41 will then abut a forwardly located protrusion 165 which serves tostop the vehicle. A depressible go" button 169 is selectively operableto shift the protrusion 165 to one side out of the path of the guide tab41. In this connection the button 169 is mounted at the top of a member170 which has a canted lower surface 171. The surface 171 is inengagement with an edge 173 at the outer end of an arm 167 which extendsunder the track and is pivotally connected thereto at a pivot point 175.The arm 167 has a right angle extension 168, at the outer end of whichthe protrusion 165 is provided. The protrusion 165 extends upwardlythrough an aperture 176 through the track. A spring 177 is utilized tobias the outer end of the arm 167 to the right as viewed in FIG. 13,thereby maintaining the button 169 in a raised position and alsomaintaining the protrusion 165 in a position so as to block the loweredguide tab 41 of the vehicle. Forwardly of the protrusion 165 is a ramp179 formed on the track to raise the lowered guide tab 41 back into araised and locked position within the vehicle as the vehicle passes it.The track segment 63 can be colored or otherwise coded to correspond toone of the buttons on the control console 74 which will move the guidetab 41 transversely aligned with the stop protrusion to its operativeposition. In this manner one can pre-program the vehicle to stop at sucha station by depressing a corresponding colored button at the consoleand not relying on stop button 155 (providing the guide tab 41 has notencountered a ramp and been raised to an inoperative position).Alternatively, of course, the stop button 155 can be utilized and willserve its role of raising the projection 159 to engage an actuator tab43 to thereby lower a guide tab 41 of the vehicle. As the vehiclepasses, the projection 159 will be cleared from the surface of the trackby the extensions 149 on the vehicle in the manner previously describedwith regard to protrusions 65.

Turning to FIG. 14 there is seen a different embodiment of a stoppingstation wherein a stop button 181 is affixed to the outer end of apivotal arm 183 mounted on an axle 185 that extends beneath and parallelto the track. The arm 183 is biased by a spring 193, and an actuatorprotrusion 187 mounted at the outer end of the arm 183 cooperates withan opening 189 in the track in the same manner as protrusions 65 and159. Thus, the protrusion 187 once again serves to engage the actuatortab 43 to cause guide tab 41 of a vehicle to be dropped down onto thesurface of the track. In this case, the guide tab 41 will fall into anelongated longitudinally extending opening 194 coaligned with thelowered guide tab 41. When the guide tab 41 abuts the front wall 195 'ofthe opening 194, the vehicle will be stopped. A go button 197 serves torelease the guide tab 41 from the opening 194. The button 197 is mountedon the outer end of an arm 199 pivotally mounted on the axle 185. Theouter end of the arm 199 has a longitudinally forwardly extendingsection 200 which terminates in an upwardly extending finger 201. Thefinger 201 is normally disposed below the track surface 61 due to theaction of a spring 203 which biases the go button 197 upwardly. When thego button 197 is depressed, finger 201 moves upwardly through theopening 194 so as to force the guide tab 41 upwardly into its lockedposition within the vehicle. This allows the vehicle to continue onalong the track.

The vehicle may be programmed at the console 74 for this stop or thestop may be achieved by use of the stop button 181. When the button 181is used, the protrusion 187 is cleared as in the other embodiment, bythe projections 149 on the vehicle as the vehicle passes forwardly.

Thus, the illustrated set permits programming of a vehicle at thecontrol console so that the vehicle will either go straight or turn atvarious intersections. It can also'be so preprogrammed to stop atdesired stations.

Further, the vehicle may be de-programmed after it has performed aprogrammed function or it may not be 1 deprogrammed but rather permittedto perform an additional function by virtue of that original singleprogramming.

The vehicle may be provided with means to clear the programming at theconsole so that the next vehicle can be differently programmed.

Remote stations along the track may also be used to program a vehicle.Means may also be provided for stopping the vehicle at a stationpursuant to it having been programmed to stop at such a station. Meansmay also be provided to effect continued travel of the vehicle from sucha station.

By color coding or other means, the vehicle can be made to follow adesired course along the track, to stop where desired, to continue itstravel, etc. The child is thus able to readily correlate what he desiresthe vehicle to do with the control buttons.

It will be appreciated that the forces holding the protrusion 65 (andcomparable projections) in operative raised position are sufficientlygreater than the spring of portion 47 force holding a guide elements 25in its raised inoperative position, so that engagement betweenprotrusion 65 and guide element 25 results in the guide element beingmoved from its position.

We claim:

1. A toy vehicle and track set comprising in combination:

a track having a main track portion and at least one intersecting branchtrack portion,

a fixed track guide means at the surface of said track for guiding avehicle from the main track portion onto said branch track portion, and

a toy vehicle movable along said track and having movable vehicle guidemeans affixed thereto for being movable independent of said guide meanson said track and prior to operation of the vehicle to an inoperativeposition where it will not engage the fixed track guide means or to anoperative position where it will engage the fixed track guide means,whereby said vehicle may be pre-programmed prior to operation to beguided onto said branch track portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said track guide means comprises:

a longitudinally extending vertical track guide surface at theintersection of the main track portion and the branch track portion,said guide surface extending from the main track portion into saidbranch track portion.

3. A toy vehicle and track set comprising in combination:

a track having a main track portion and at least one intersecting branchtrack portion;

a fixed track guide means at the surface of said track for guiding avehicle from the main track portion onto said branch track portion; and

a toy vehicle movable along said track having vehicle guide meansactuatable from an inoperative to an operative position to engage thecorresponding fixed track guide means to guide said vehicle onto saidbranch track portion, said vehicle guide means comprising at least twoseparate and individually actuatable guide means spaced across the widthof the vehicle, said track guide means further comprising at least twoguide surfaces transversely coaligned respectively with said separatevehicle guide means but each positioned at a different intersection ofthe main track portion with a branch track portion.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said track further comprisesprogramming means selectively operablev to actuate said individualvehicle guide means to operative positions.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein:

each of said track guide means comprises a slot at the intersection ofthe main track portion and the branch track portion, said slot extendingfrom the main track portion into said branch track portion.

6. The combination of claim 2 wherein:

said vehicle guide means includes a guide portion which is normallyreleasibly locked in an inoperative position above the surface of thetrack and which moves when said guide means is actuated to an operativeposition extending downwardly from said vehicle so as to engage saidtrack guide surface.

7. The combination of claim 6 further comprising:

vehicle control means for selectively actuating one or more vehicleguide means to cause the corresponding guide portions to move to thedownward operative position.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein one of said vehicle guide meanscomprises:

en element pivotally mounted on said vehicle for rotation about atransverse axis, said element having a downwardly extending actuatorportion on the opposite side of said axis from said guide portion.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein:

said actuator portion of said vehicle guide means element is disposedadjacent the track surface when said guide portion is locked in itsinoperative position above the track surface.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein:

said element includes a locking portion which is engageable with aportion of said vehicle to lock said element in its inoperativeposition.

11. The combination of claim 8 wherein:

the actuator portion of said vehicle guide means element is transverselydisplaced from the guide portion thereof.

12. The combination of claim 1 further comprising means on said trackfor engaging said'vehicle guide means incident to the travel of thevehicle, to automatically return said vehicle guide means to itsinoperative position.

13. The combination of claim 4 wherein said programming means is codedto correspond to said track guide means.

14. A toy vehicle and track system comprising in combination:

a generally flat surfaced track having a main portion and at least oneintersecting branch portion, said track having wall means along thesides thereof,

a fixed track guide means formed at the surface of said track forguiding a vehicle between the main track portion and said branch trackportion,

and a self-propelled toy vehicle movable on said track, said vehiclehaving a width about equal to the width of said track between said wallmeans whereby said vehicle will be confined and directed along saidtrack by said wall means, said vehicle having vehicle guide means, saidvehicle guide means being movable independent of said guide means onsaid track and prior to operation of said vehicle to be positioned forengaging said track guide means whereby said vehicle will engage saidtrack guide means to be guided between said main portion and said branchtrack portion.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein:

said fixed guide means comprises a longitudinally extending verticaltrack guide surface at the intersection of the main track portion andthe branch track portion, said guide surfaces extending from the maintrack portion into said branch track portion.

16. A toy vehicle and track system comprising in combination:

a generally flat surfaced track having a main portion and at least oneintersecting branch portion, said track having wall means along the sidethereof;

a fixed track guide means formed at the surface of said track forguiding a vehicle from the main track portion onto said branch trackportion; and self-propelled toy vehicle movable on said track, saidvehicle having a width about equal to the width of said track betweensaid wall means whereby said vehicle will be confined and directed alongsaid track by said wall means, said vehicle having actuatable vehicleguide means for engaging said track guide means to guide said vehicleonto said branch track portion, said actuatable vehicle guide meanscomprising at least two selectively actuatable individual guide meansspaced across the width of the vehicle, said track guide meanscomprising at least'two guide surfaces coaligned respectively with saidindividual vehicle guide means but each positioned at a differentintersection of the main track portion with a branch track portion.

17. The combination of claim 16 further comprising:

control means having individual actuators corresponding to each of saidindividual vehicle guide means, whereby each actuator can cause acorresponding vehicle guide means to become actuated.

18. Toy apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a track,

a toy vehicle for movement along the track, having at least two separatevehicle control means on the vehicle movable between operative andnonoperative positions,

at least two track control means at different locations along the track,each for cooperating with one of said vehicle control means, when thatvehicle control means is in the operative position, to control theaction of the vehicle, and

a control console operatively associated with the track to selectivelycause movement of desired vehicle control means to operative positions.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said console has controls thatare coded to correspond to the control means on the track.

20. The combination of claim 19 wherein said coding is by color.

21. The combination of claim 18, further comprising means on said trackfor moving said vehicle control means back to their inoperative positionafter it has controlled the action of the vehicle.

22. The combination of claim 18 further comprising an additional trackcontrol means which is positioned to cooperate with one of the separatevehicle control means after that said one separate vehicle control meanshas previously cooperated with a track control means.

23. The combination of claim 18 wherein at least one of said trackcontrol means comprises a stop means for halting the travel of thevehicle.

24. The combination of claim 23 further including means for moving saidstop means to the side to permit further travel of said vehicle.

25. A toy vehicle and track set comprising:

a toy track having track control means for longitudinally andtransversely spaced apart positions on the track,

a toy vehicle body, including a body a plurality of individual vehiclecontrol means mounted on said body and each including a control portionmovable between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operativeposition, each of said vehicle control means portions being engageablewith at least one of said track control means to effect control of thetravel of said vehicle when said portion is in its lowered operativeposition,

said portions being spaced transversely of said vehicle body, wherebythey are aligned with said transversely spaced track control means.

26. For use in combination with a toy track having track control meansat longitudinally and transversely spaced apart positions on the track,a toy vehicle comprising:

a body,

a plurality of individual vehicle control means mounted on said body andeach including a control portion movable between a raised inoperativeposition and a lowered operative position beneath said body to effectcontrol of the travel of said vehicle, said control portions beingspaced transversely of said vehicle body, said individual vehiclecontrol means comprising an element pivotally mounted on a transversepivot axis on said vehicle body, said element including said controlportion, a downwardly extending actuator portion located opposite thepivot axis from the control portion, and a locking portion engageablewith said vehicle body.

27. The toy vehicle of claim 26 wherein said locking portion is anelongated resilient spring arm constructed and arranged so that said armis under no significant tensioning when engaged with the vehicle body.

28. The toy vehicle of claim 27 wherein said element is an integralpiece of resilient plastic.

29. The combination of claim 18 wherein said control console includesprogramming means movable to a contact position where it will engage thevehicle control means of the toy vehicle incident to travel of thevehicle along the track to cause said movement of said vehicle controlmeans.

30. The combination of claim 29 wherein said toy vehicle includes meansfor engaging said programming means incident to travel of the vehiclealong the track to move said programming means from said contactposition.

1. A toy vehicle and track set comprising in combination: a track havinga main track portion and at least one intersecting branch track portion,a fixed track guide means at the surface of said track for guiding avehicle from the main track portion onto said branch track portion, anda toy vehicle movable along said track and having movable vehicle guidemeans affixed thereto for being movable independent of said guide meanson said track and prior to operation of the vehicle to an inoperativeposition where it will not engage the fixed track guide means or to anoperative position where it will engage the fixed track guide means,whereby said vehicle may be pre-programmed prior to operation to beguided onto said branch track portion.
 2. The combination of claim 1wherein said track guide means comprises: a longitudinally extendingvertical track guide surface at the intersection of the main trackportion and the branch track portion, said guide surface extending fromthe main track portion into said branch track portion.
 3. A toy vehicleand track set comprising in combination: a track having a main trackportion and at least one intersecting branch track portion; a fixedtrack guide means at the surface of said track for guiding a vehiclefrom the main track portion onto said branch track portion; and a toyvehicle movable along said track having vehicle guide means actuatablefrom an inoperative to an operative position to engage the correspondingfixed track guide means to guide said vehicle onto said branch trackportion, said vehicle guide means comprising at least two separate andindividually actuatable guide means spaced across the width of thevehicle, said track guide means further comprising at least two guidesurfaces transversely coaligned respectively with said separate vehicleguide means but each positioned at a different intersection of the maintrack portion with a branch track portion.
 4. The combination of claim 3wherein said track further comprises programming means selectivelyoperable to actuate said individual vehicle guide means to operativepositions.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein: each of said trackguide means comprises a slot at the intersection of the main trackportion and the branch track portion, said slot extending from the maintrack portion into said branch track portion.
 6. The combination ofclaim 2 wherein: said vehicle guide means includes a guide portion whichis normally releasibly locked in an inoperative position above thesurface of the track and which moves when said Guide means is actuatedto an operative position extending downwardly from said vehicle so as toengage said track guide surface.
 7. The combination of claim 6 furthercomprising: vehicle control means for selectively actuating one or morevehicle guide means to cause the corresponding guide portions to move tothe downward operative position.
 8. The combination of claim 7 whereinone of said vehicle guide means comprises: en element pivotally mountedon said vehicle for rotation about a transverse axis, said elementhaving a downwardly extending actuator portion on the opposite side ofsaid axis from said guide portion.
 9. The combination of claim 8wherein: said actuator portion of said vehicle guide means element isdisposed adjacent the track surface when said guide portion is locked inits inoperative position above the track surface.
 10. The combination ofclaim 9 wherein: said element includes a locking portion which isengageable with a portion of said vehicle to lock said element in itsinoperative position.
 11. The combination of claim 8 wherein: theactuator portion of said vehicle guide means element is transverselydisplaced from the guide portion thereof.
 12. The combination of claim 1further comprising means on said track for engaging said vehicle guidemeans incident to the travel of the vehicle, to automatically returnsaid vehicle guide means to its inoperative position.
 13. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein said programming means is coded tocorrespond to said track guide means.
 14. A toy vehicle and track systemcomprising in combination: a generally flat surfaced track having a mainportion and at least one intersecting branch portion, said track havingwall means along the sides thereof, a fixed track guide means formed atthe surface of said track for guiding a vehicle between the main trackportion and said branch track portion, and a self-propelled toy vehiclemovable on said track, said vehicle having a width about equal to thewidth of said track between said wall means whereby said vehicle will beconfined and directed along said track by said wall means, said vehiclehaving vehicle guide means, said vehicle guide means being movableindependent of said guide means on said track and prior to operation ofsaid vehicle to be positioned for engaging said track guide meanswhereby said vehicle will engage said track guide means to be guidedbetween said main portion and said branch track portion.
 15. Thecombination of claim 14 wherein: said fixed guide means comprises alongitudinally extending vertical track guide surface at theintersection of the main track portion and the branch track portion,said guide surfaces extending from the main track portion into saidbranch track portion.
 16. A toy vehicle and track system comprising incombination: a generally flat surfaced track having a main portion andat least one intersecting branch portion, said track having wall meansalong the side thereof; a fixed track guide means formed at the surfaceof said track for guiding a vehicle from the main track portion ontosaid branch track portion; and a self-propelled toy vehicle movable onsaid track, said vehicle having a width about equal to the width of saidtrack between said wall means whereby said vehicle will be confined anddirected along said track by said wall means, said vehicle havingactuatable vehicle guide means for engaging said track guide means toguide said vehicle onto said branch track portion, said actuatablevehicle guide means comprising at least two selectively actuatableindividual guide means spaced across the width of the vehicle, saidtrack guide means comprising at least two guide surfaces coalignedrespectively with said individual vehicle guide means but eachpositioned at a different intersection of the main track portion with abranch track portion.
 17. The combination of claim 16 furthercomprising: control means having iNdividual actuators corresponding toeach of said individual vehicle guide means, whereby each actuator cancause a corresponding vehicle guide means to become actuated.
 18. Toyapparatus, comprising, in combination: a track, a toy vehicle formovement along the track, having at least two separate vehicle controlmeans on the vehicle movable between operative and non-operativepositions, at least two track control means at different locations alongthe track, each for cooperating with one of said vehicle control means,when that vehicle control means is in the operative position, to controlthe action of the vehicle, and a control console operatively associatedwith the track to selectively cause movement of desired vehicle controlmeans to operative positions.
 19. The combination of claim 18 whereinsaid console has controls that are coded to correspond to the controlmeans on the track.
 20. The combination of claim 19 wherein said codingis by color.
 21. The combination of claim 18, further comprising meanson said track for moving said vehicle control means back to theirinoperative position after it has controlled the action of the vehicle.22. The combination of claim 18 further comprising an additional trackcontrol means which is positioned to cooperate with one of the separatevehicle control means after that said one separate vehicle control meanshas previously cooperated with a track control means.
 23. Thecombination of claim 18 wherein at least one of said track control meanscomprises a stop means for halting the travel of the vehicle.
 24. Thecombination of claim 23 further including means for moving said stopmeans to the side to permit further travel of said vehicle.
 25. A toyvehicle and track set comprising: a toy track having track control meansfor longitudinally and transversely spaced apart positions on the track,a toy vehicle, including a body a plurality of individual vehiclecontrol means mounted on said body and each including a control portionmovable between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operativeposition, each of said vehicle control means portions being engageablewith at least one of said track control means to effect control of thetravel of said vehicle when said portion is in its lowered operativeposition, said portions being spaced transversely of said vehicle body,whereby they are aligned with said transversely spaced track controlmeans.
 26. For use in combination with a toy track having track controlmeans at longitudinally and transversely spaced apart positions on thetrack, a toy vehicle comprising: a body, a plurality of individualvehicle control means mounted on said body and each including a controlportion movable between a raised inoperative position and a loweredoperative position beneath said body to effect control of the travel ofsaid vehicle, said control portions being spaced transversely of saidvehicle body, said individual vehicle control means comprising anelement pivotally mounted on a transverse pivot axis on said vehiclebody, said element including said control portion, a downwardlyextending actuator portion located opposite the pivot axis from thecontrol portion, and a locking portion engageable with said vehiclebody.
 27. The toy vehicle of claim 26 wherein said locking portion is anelongated resilient spring arm constructed and arranged so that said armis under no significant tensioning when engaged with the vehicle body.28. The toy vehicle of claim 27 wherein said element is an integralpiece of resilient plastic.
 29. The combination of claim 18 wherein saidcontrol console includes programming means movable to a contact positionwhere it will engage the vehicle control means of the toy vehicleincident to travel of the vehicle along the track to cause said movementof said vehicle control means.
 30. The combination of claim 29 whereinsaid toy vehicle includes means for engagiNg said programming meansincident to travel of the vehicle along the track to move saidprogramming means from said contact position.